Jesus’ Parable in Luke 16:19-31 does not refer to Physical death because this type of communication is forbidden by God.
- Communication with the dead is forbidden (Deut 18:10-14).
De 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Jesus was not referring to physical death in this section of scripture. He was referring to their death to the stipulations of the “Law” of God.
This means that although the Laws of God existed and served to punish violators of that Law (Gal 2:19 and 1 Tim 1:9), these two people had come to a place of faith where they fulfilled the law of God and thereby were not liable to its punishments.
Ga 2:19 For I, through the law, have become dead to the law, so that I might be living to God.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
“Lazarus” and the “Rich Man” Died “to sin” (Rm 6:10) and began their resurrection into life – Rm 6:4-12.
“In the course of Time,” (Lk 16:22) one of these people displayed obedience and one disobedience.
Lu 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried
- In verse 22, the beggar experiences (so-called) “Death” and is obedient. Angels then escorted Him to Abraham’s bosom, since “all” angels are ministers to the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14) who separate the righteous from the unrighteous (Matt 24:31).
- The rich man, after the (so-called) “death” referred to in this parable, was found disobedient and sent to Hell. He was sent there by God and carried there by “Evil Angels” (Matt 13:41 and 42).
- Having been sent there by Jesus as “willfully sinful” believers are sent there (Mt 25:41, Heb 10:26), He would not be released from Hell’s disciplinary function until He made recompense (Matt 5:26 and Lk 12:59).
Looking at this Parable, it needs to be remembered that communicating with the dead was forbidden by God.
Jesus understood that it would appear as if He was telling a parable that seemed to violate God’s will. Jesus of course, was not violating God’s will.
This means that the “Death” referred to here is not physical.
Mr 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
This is Jesus telling a parable designed to be understood by His followers and misunderstood by unbelievers, Mt 13:11-12. He is speaking of the Mysteries of God (1 Cor 14:2), or Speaking in Tongues (Acts 2:11) and interpreting the message to His Disciples when they are alone, Mt 4:34.
In that vein, the story shows both people “dying”, and then one of them is carried into the Kingdom/Presence of God by Angels (Matt 24:31) and the other is carried by angels into the “Presence” of the Devil and His Angels in Hell (Matt 13:41).
We are told that Angels separate obedient followers from Disobedient followers.
Mt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
In Matthew 25:41, Jesus sends a person who called Him Lord (The Rich Man’s situation – Since Abraham called Him Son, {Gal 3:7}) into the Presence of the Devil and His angels.
Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Ga 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
This is for Discipline, as the concept of judgment is referred to in 1 Corinthians 11:32.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
This is why the Rich Man was in Hell.
The death spoken of in Luke 16:22 does not refer to physical death but to death to the “rudiments of the world,” similar to Colossians 2:20.
Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Lu 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
In Luke 16:19, we are told of a living rich man.
In Luke 16:20 the beggar Lazarus is alive and at the rich man’s gate.
Lu 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Lu 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
In Luke 16:22, both Lazarus and the rich man die. (Die to Sin/unbelief) They are both translated into the kingdom of God and are “not” found in the “likeness” of Adam, just as Enoch was in Gen 5:24.
Ge 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Lu 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
The First reason that this conversation is considered to be referring to a Living believer’s “death to sin” or unbelief (Rom 6:7) and not physical death is that communication with the Dead is forbidden in several verses of the Bible, Deut 18:10 and Lev 19:31.
Jesus was sinless and would not have told a parable that approved of a practice that God had forbidden.
Communicating with a saint who was physically “dead” but spiritually “alive”, is something that Jesus Himself did on the Mount of “Transfiguration”. He was not talking with a physically dead person, Matt 17:3 and Mark 9:4.
Mt 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Mr 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Both Lazarus and the Rich Man were believers who had (similar to Enoch) been translated out of the power of Darkness (Col 1:13) or the image of Adam (Gen 5:24).
Ro 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
De 18:10 There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Le 19:31 Regard, not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
In addition, Solomon tells us in Ec 9:5 that the dead know nothing.
Ec 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Solomon was referring to physical death in Ec 9:5. Unbelievers are referred to in scripture as being “Spiritually Dead”, Eph 2:1-10.
Eph 2:1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
In New Covenant terminology Luke 16:20-31, Jesus is speaking of the believer’s first resurrection from the dead (Col 3:1), similar to what happened to Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Heb 11:5 and the believer’s translation in Col 1:13.
People in the Old Testament who were seeking God could also be referred to as being translated out of the power of darkness, as is shown in Col 1:13.
Ge 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
In Luke 16:23, the dead rich man is being “tormented” in the flame (fire), and He sees the “comforted” Lazarus far from Him.
Lu 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Lk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Lu 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
A Second reason that Lazarus is to be considered a believer is that Abraham calls Lazarus His Son (Lk 19:9), which is an indicator that Lazarus is a person who seeks after God and is not an unbelieving person.
Lu 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Lu 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Lu 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
Lu 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
This statement can be likened to Jesus saying “Let the Dead Bury their Dead” in Luke 9:60.
Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Lu 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Lu 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The rich believer in Hell is similar to when Jesus sends willfully sinful believers to Hell (Mt 7:23) to learn to deny ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12 and 1 Cor. 11:32) in the New Testament, and they don’t come out of that prison until they make recompense for the willful sin, Matt. 5:26.
Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
In Mark 4:34, scripture tells us that Jesus always spoke in parables and then told the Disciples what He meant when they were alone. He said that He veiled things in a parable when He was speaking to unbelievers.
Jesus said that He spoke in parables so that unbelievers would not understand the truth of the message, Mk 4:11-12.
Mr 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Mr 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Conclusion –
It appears that Jesus is referring to ” a Living believer’s death to sin/unbelief” and not “physical death” in Luke 16:20-13.
This is because communication with the dead is forbidden by God.
The Rich Man can both “see” Lazarus and “speak” to Abraham while in this state that Jesus is referring to.
Although Lazarus was experiencing the resurrected life referred to in Col 3:1, Abraham said that the brothers of the Rich man would not come to God simply because they saw a person who was living this “Resurrected Life”.